Galthie slams door on England

Unstoppable surge: The French team mobs Serge Betsen who cradles the trophy

By Paul Ackford at Stade de France

7:25PM BST 06 Apr 2002

France 44 Ireland 5

The first Grand Slam of the millennium for France, the first of the expanded Six Nations and a harsh, harsh lesson for England. This was the ninth occasion France have had a Grand Slam in their sights and they have grasped seven of them. Contrast that with England's abject record in recent seasons when faced with the biggest prize in European rugby. Three times they have chased a Grand Slam and three times they have let it slip from their clammy fingers.

France were majestic in patches yesterday. According to medics within their camp who had monitored the squad's blood going into the game, their fitness levels were in decline. No doubt that was the reason France blasted away from the start, scoring three tries and 23 points to finish the contest on the half-hour. They saved their best for first in the knowledge that such an avalanche of possession and points would knock the stuffing out of Ireland. It did. Comfortably.

There were so many things to admire about France. The pace of Nicolas Brusque and Aurelien Rougerie, the physicality and the desire of the centre pairing, Tony Marsh and Damien Traille, the athleticism of Imanol Harinordoquy and the thrusts of Raphael Ibanez were all impressive but two aspects stood out especially. Ultimately, France destroyed Ireland through the general play of their forwards and the tactical excellence of their captain, Fabien Galthie.

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Galthie is the heartbeat of this French side. When he plays they are a different outfit altogether and his reading of the game and promptings from scrum-half turned Ireland inside-out. It was a Galthie break after France had forced a turnover that led to a try for Rougerie, but his contribution was far more influential than that.

The little man defies modern convention. His pass is not particularly snappy and he is not especially quick, but he sees holes early and he has the composure to bide his time and wait until half-chances become gift-wrapped, stone-cold certainties. France play him nominally at scrum-half but he has licence to wander and it is the ability to be comfortable all over the pitch which makes him so special.

That, in essence, was the difference between the two sides up front also, and remains the area where France comfortably outpoint England. For all England's improvement in athleticism and ball-handling in recent seasons, the big men do not have the same facility on the ball in open space as the French forwards.

One glorious moment summed it all up. Late in the first half, Harinordoquy fielded a speculative kick out of defence from Ireland. The No 8 was close to the touchline and hemmed in by chasers yet he worked space for flanker Serge Betsen, who in turn freed Pieter de Villiers. It was a remarkably skilful piece of interplay and the beauty of it all was that the three French forwards made it look completely unremarkable.

That was a feature of France's second try, too, when props Jean-Jacques Crenca and de Villiers were the meat in the sandwich during the build-up to the first of Brusque's two scores. Traille and Marsh opened up the Irish defence but it was de Villiers' support play and Crenca's timely delaying of a pass which forced the five points.

Ireland could not remotely match that natural grace and nor could they make the hard yards which the French forwards gained when necessary. Keith Wood had a marvellous game so soon after a long while out with injury. Wood scored his side's only try after 10 minutes and Anthony Foley had a few telling runs but Ireland were seriously underpowered up front, where they were roasted in the scrummage and scragged in the line-out.

That has been Ireland's weakness all season. Apart from their opening encounter against Wales, they have struggled to win and retain ball and no side can mount a vibrant campaign with a foundation that is constantly crumbling. Brian O'Driscoll was outstanding in defence, three tackles on Betsen, Traille and Fabien Pelous bordering on the exceptional, but even he could not prise open a French defence that was as organised and efficient as it had been against England.

Come the end the French were, well, taking the Mick. They played much of the second half at walking pace but were still far too lively for Ireland. Second tries by Betsen and Brusque ensured that the scoreboard rattled along almost in tune with the thump, thump, thump of the Dax band in the stands. And the carnival scenes continued right up to the final whistle, as France introduced the whole of their substitutes' bench to join in the fun.

So the curtain comes down on the Six Nations. England's jolly against Italy today is now virtually meaningless. Ireland will not wish to remember their record defeats against England and France but England will not want to confront the reality that they are no longer the kingpins of Europe.

This was France's third Grand Slam in six years. They are a young side who are going to get better and, as things stand, are carrying the torch for the northern hemisphere. For all the hype surrounding England, and the occasional flashes of excellence which promise so much, France are the side who are delivering.